The Clos-O-Mat Toilet Saves Water and Energy

Let’s think about going to the toilet for a second (stop sniggering at the back). As crucial as they are to our daily lives, most toilets are not the greenest household appliances. Each flush uses about 3-5 gallons of water, while the creation of a single roll of toilet paper uses 37 gallons of water, 13 kWh of electricity and 1.5lbs of wood. In order to make our time on the throne more environmentally friend, UK company Total Hygiene have developed the Clos-O-Mat – a combined toilet/bidet and drier. According to Total Hygiene, the Clos-O-Mat only uses a 1/10th of the water and energy required to produce just a single roll of toilet paper, not to mention 0% of the wood. Read on to learn how it works!

Originally developed for the elderly, the Clos-O-Mat allows the user to control all functions (flushing, washing and drying) via one simple action – press for flush and wash, release for drying. As a result, the user need never use their hands (or toilet paper), reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Shockingly, almost 80% of infectious diseases are passed by human contact, and on average only 50% of people wash their hands after using the bathroom.

“A typical Clos-o-Mat toilet uses less than 2 gallons of water to flush and wash, and less electricity than a kettle – 0.12 kWh – to warm the water and air-dry,” said Robin Tuffley, Total Hygiene Marketing Manager. “The eco credentials speak for themselves, even before you factor in the health benefits of improved hygiene.”

“We know germs are passed by hand/body contact, so removing that contact improves hygiene. Washing with water rather than wiping is also more effective, especially if you have a limiting physical or mental condition, and, for some, a religious consideration. And a combined unit takes up less space, and requires less cleaning, than a separate toilet and bidet.”

Total Hygiene also has an unlikely advocate of the technology in the form of Star Wars actor Kenny Baker (R2D2) who has one in his Lancashire home. He got it installed after coming across a similar product in Japan, where 60% of households have such units.

Speaking to 24dash, he said, “The Japanese love technology, and to them such toilets are normal. I thought ‘I’ve got to have one of those!’ It was a treat to go to the toilet. The Clos-O-Mat has been a fantastic buy, so comfortable, and so much more hygienic and pleasant.”

Currently only produced in the UK, the Clos-O-Mat has made going to the bathroom greener and cleaner for 40,000 people.

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1 Comment

This is a great idea that not only helps to conserve water, paper, and energy but also saves space – which is an important commodity for affordable housing. It will be interesting to see if this eventually catches on in the US. To be installed in multifamily buildings, it will be important to really understand the maintenance requirements of these units.